Planter



g- 15, 1967 J. BAUMAN ETAL 3,335,680

PLANTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Sept. 26, 1962 K O T N E v W(10071 Ba urrrzcz H Gordon R. OiMz Z Ill/1% Aug. 15, 1967 J. L. BALJMANETAL 3,335,530

PLANTER Original Filed Sept. 26,, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR.JczcZf l. umran G ordon OM22 (Jiily.

United States Patent 3,335,680 PLANTER Jack L. Bauman, Naperville, andGordon R. ONeil, Westmont, Ill., assignors to International HarvesterCompany, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No.226,398, Sept. 26, 1962. This application May 11, 1964, Ser. No. 367,28210 Claims. (Cl. 111-51) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Seed from a planterhopper is directed by gravity tangentially to a vertical rotary seedwheel having one or more lugs projecting from its periphery. The seedfalling through a guide channel is arrested and accumulated by a springretainer mounted in the channel extending inwardly of the lugs to theperiphery of the wheel. During rotation of the wheel, one of the lugsengages the seed held between the retainer and the periphery of thewheel and deflects the retainer ejecting the seed.

This invention relates to planters and particularly hill drop planters,and is a continuation of US. application Ser. No. 226,398, filed Sept.26, 1962, now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to provide improved seedfeeding mechanismfor a planter to assure uniform spacing and the deposition of seed inthe furrow with maximum precision and accuracy.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a hill drop planter,improved means for accumulating the seed in clusters and for dischargingthem into the furrow in compact grouping.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved guide means forreceiving seed from a dispenser and directing it to the ground.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompaying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a ground driven planter unitincorporating the features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional detail view similar to FIG- URE 2 showing therelationship of the novel guide means to the hill drop wheel; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the guide member of this invention.

The planter unit shown in FIGURE 1 comprises a frame adapted forconnection at its front end to a tractive vehicle and supported at itsrear end by a groundengaging press wheel 11. Seed dispensing mechanismof conventional construction is mounted on the frame and includes ahopper or container 12 from which seed is fed to a conventional seedplate, not shown, driven from a shaft 13 having mounted thereon asprocket wheel 14 driven by a chain 15 from the ground wheel 11. Seeddischarged from hopper 12 passes through a tube 16 contained in a spout17 into a seed boot 18 comprising laterally spaced plates 19 having arear connecting Wall 20 and a forward connecting wall 21. To the lowerend of boot 18 is secured a furrow opener 22 the forward end of whichcurves upwardly and is connected to the frame 10.

Chain 15 drives shaft 13, upon which is also mounted another sprocketwheel 23 connected by a drive chain 24 with sprocket wheel 25 secured toa shaft in the form of a bolt 26 to which is also afiixed a wheel 27.Wheel 27 comprises a disk-shaped body portion 28 aflixed by bolts 3,335,680 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 mounted in bearings 32 and 33 anchoredto the plates 19. A spacer 34 extends between bearing 32 and sprocketwheel 25 and the unit is held together by nuts 35 and 36 on the threadedends of the bolts 32.

Disk portion 28 of the wheel 27 flares outwardly at its periphery toform the flattened rim 37 to the underside of which, as shown in FIGURES2 and 4, are affixed a plurality of circumferentially spaced attachingstructures 38. Each of the attaching structures or elements 38 isprovided with a recess 39 in which is seated a nut 40 adapted to receivethe threaded end of a screw 41 passed through registering openingsprovided in the attaching element 38 and a lug 42 mounted on the outerperiphery of the wheel, alnd serving a purpose which will hereinafterbecome c ear.

It will be noted from FIGURES 2 and 4 that a portion of wheel 27 isrotatable in the path of seed discharged through tube 16 and thediameter thereof is so chosen that it is driven from the ground wheel 11at or near ground speed. Associated with the wheel adjacent theperiphery thereof on an are substantially described by the outer edgesof the lugs 42 is a channel-shaped curved guide member 43 which includesan arcuately-shaped leaf spring 44, forming the base of the channelmember 43 and spaced side wall members 45.

The side members 45 of the channel member 43 are provided near theirupper ends with ears 46 having enlarged openings 47 adapted to receive apin 48 mounted between the plates 19. Near the lower end of channelmember 43 the side plates 45 are provided with ears 49 spaced by asleeve 50 in which is pivotally received a pin 51 carried by plates 19and about which the side plates are capable of pivoting within thelimits of pin 48 in oversized opening 47.

The two sides 45 of channel member 43 are made of plastic and areconnected near their upper ends by a base portion 52 to which spring 44is anchored by bolts 53. The upper end of spring 44 is bent back uponitself to form a spring tongue 54 which engages pin 48 and holds itagainst one wall of the slot or opening 47, urging the channel member 43radially inwardly toward wheel 27.

As will be particularly noted in FIGURES 2 and 4, channel member 43flanks and overlaps the sides of rim 37 of the wheel in closeassociation therewith to form with the periphery of the wheel asubstantially closed conduit 55 which guides the seed from dischargetube 16 through the boot 18 and furrow opener 22 to the ground.

As will also be noted particularly well in FIGURE 2, the lower portionof spring 44 bears against sleeve 50 as a fulcrum to accommodate flexingof the lower end of the spring about said sleeve as a pivot. Acup-shaped pocket-forming member 56 made of plastic or the like issecured by bolts 57 to the lower end of the spring, the extensionthereof being independent of the sides 45 and being curved forwardlybetween the side plates into substantial engagement with the peripheryof wheel 27 to arrest the fall of seed through the guide channel and toaccumulate the seed therein.

On the periphery of the wheel shown in the drawings four lugs 42 areprovided and spaced apart. During rotation of wheel 27 the lugs 42successively engage seed accumulated in the cup 58 formed by the member56 and deflect the latter radially outwardly against the inherent biasof spring 44 and about the sleeve 50 as .a pivot axis to accommodateejection of the accumulated seed to form a hill in the furrow containinga number of seed at linear space in the row between adjacent hillsdetermined by the number of lugs 42. The lugs are easily removable, byremoving bolts 41, to regulate the number of lugs on the wheel, Forexample, when only a single lug 42 is secured to one of the attachingelements 38- on the wheel, seed accumulated in pocket 58 is ejected onlyonce for each revolution of the wheel, whereas with the four lugs shownin the drawings, member 56 is deflected and seed ejected four times foreach revolution.

The diameter of the wheel shown in the drawings is a function of thespacing desired between hills of seed and the number of seed to bedeposited per hill. The diameter of the wheel is approximately 12 inchesand the circumference approximately 38 inches so that the spacingbetween hills in the row is approximately inches represented by thedistance between lugs 42. The removal of two lugs would provide ejectionof seed twice for each revolution of the wheel and spacing between hillsin the row of approximately 20 inches.

By use of the wheel shown in the drawings driven at ground speed, seedejected from the pocket 58 falls naturally at the speed of travel to theground so that it does not bounce when it hits the furrow and settles ina compact pattern, undisturbed, in the ground.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the novel plantingapparatus of this invention will be clearly understood from theforegoing description. It should likewise be understood that theinvention has been described in its preferred embodiment and thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hill drop planter, a frame, a seed container carried by theframe, a circular seed wheel rotatably mounted in the frame, meanscarried by the frame for rotating said wheel, at least one seed ejectorlug affixed to the periphery of the wheel and projecting radiallytherefrom, an arcuate guide member yieldably mounted on the frameconforming to the curvature of the seed Wheel and spaced therefrom theradial width of said lug to form a seed receiving channel therebetweenand the periphery of the wheel wherein the seed is confined duringrotation of the wheel, said guide member having its lower end extendingradially inwardly of said lug toward the periphery of the wheel and intosubstantial engagement with said periphery of said wheel to formtherewith a pocket for the accumulation of seed received in saidchannel, the seed in the channel being engageable with said lug and saidlower end of the guide member being radially yieldable to accommodateejection of the seed from said pocket upon engagement thereof with saidlug.

2. In a planter having a mobile frame, a seed container mounted on theframe and a guide channel in the frame in association with the containerto receive and guide seed therefrom to the ground, the combination of awheel rotatably mounted on the frame having a portion of its peripherydisposed in said channel, means carried by the frame for rotating saidwheel, a lug affixed to the periphery of the wheel and extending acrosssaid channel to engage seed therein during rotation of the wheel andeject it from the lower end of the channel, and a pocket-forming memberyieldably mounted on the channel radially outwardly of said lug andextending across the lower portion of said channel radially inwardly ofsaid lug into cooperative relation with the periphery of said wheel toform therewith a pocket for the accumulation of seed, the seed in saidpocket-forming member being engageable by said lug, and saidpocket-forming member being yieldable radially of the wheel toaccommodate ejection therefrom of the accumulated seed during rotationof the wheel.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein said pocket-formingmember forms a portion of one wall of said guide channel and is spacedfrom the periphery of said wheel by the radial width of said lug, thelower end of said pocket member being bent radially inwardly toward theperiphery of the wheel to form a pocket therewith.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3, wherein a plurality .of said lugsare affixed to the periphery of said wheel at circumferentially spacedlocations thereon and said pocket-forming member includes a leaf springmovably mounted on said frame having its lower end bent to conform tothe shape of said pocket and defiectible by successive of said lugsduring rotation of the wheel, whereby said lugs will periodically ejectfrom said 5. The invention set forth in claim 4, wherein the upper endof said leaf spring is pivotally mounted on the frame and a stop carriedby the channel is engageable with the lower portion of the spring tohold the bent lower end thereof in cooperative relation with theperiphcry of the wheel.

6. In a planter having a mobile frame and a seed container mounted onthe frame, a boot structure carried by the frame through which seedpasses from the container to the ground including spaced plates, agenerally vertically disposed channel-shaped guide member mounted on theframe between said plates with its upper end in seed-receiving relationto the container, spaced-apart side walls and a base portion, a wheelrotatably mounted between said lplates with a portion of its peripheryreceived between said side walls to form a closure for said guidemember, means carried by the frame for rotating said wheel, a pluralityof seed-engaging members carried by the wheel, and means for removablysecuring said members to said wheel at circumferentially spacedlocations to projecting radially from the periphery of the wheel andspan the space therebetween and said base portion pocket the seedsaccumulated therein. in the path of the seed received from thecontainer, whereby to engage the seed during rotation of the wheel andeject it from the lower end of the guide member, said seed engagingmembers being removable to vary the number thereof and therefore thecircumferential spacing therebetween.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6, wherein the lower end of saidbase portion is curved radially inwardly toward the periphery of saidwheel to form therewith a seed accumulating pocket and is defiectibleoutwardly independently of said side walls upon engagement thereof withsaid seed-engaging members to accommodate ejection of the seed to theground.

8. In a planter having a mobile frame, a seed container and a bootstructure mounted on the frame, including a pair of plates, a wheelrotatably mounted between said plates, means carried by the frame forrotating said wheel, an arcuately-shaped guide member U-shaped insection mounted between the plates concentric with the wheel and havinga base portion radially spaced from the periphery of the wheel and sideportions extending to the periphery of the wheel and forming therewith aconduit having its upper end adjacent the container to receive seedtherefrom and guide it to the ground, and means yieldably mounted onsaid guide member having its lower end directed radially inwardly to theperiphery of the wheel to form therewith a pocket for the accumulationof seed, and lugs secured to the wheel and engageable with the seed insaid pocket, said pocket-forming means being yieldable radiallyoutwardly to accommodate ejection of the seed by said lugs.

9. In a planter having a mobile frame, a seed container and a bootstructure mounted on the frame, in cluding a pair of plates, a wheelrotatably mounted between said plates, means carried by the frame forrotating said wheel, an arcuately-shaped guide member U-shaped insection mounted between the plates concentric with the wheel and havinga base portion radially spaced from the periphery of the wheel and sideportions extending to the periphery of the wheel and forming therewith aconduit having its upper end adjacent the container to received seedtherefrom and guide it to the ground, and means yieldably mounted onsaid guide member having its lower end directed radially inwardly to theperiphery of the wheel to form therewith a pocket for the accumulationof seed, and lugs secured to the wheel and engageable with the seed insaid pocket, said pocket-forming means being yieldable to accommodateejection of the seed by said lugs, said pocket-forming means including aleaf spring having its upper end anchored to said plates and having itsmain body spaced from and concentric with the wheel to form a channel toguide the seed from the container to the ground and having its lower enddirected toward the periphery of the wheel to form said pockettherewith.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9, wherein means is provided foroperatively securing said leaf spring to said plates medially of itsends to provide a main body yieldable radially to accommodate passage ofseed therebetween and the ends of said lugs and a lower pocket-References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Davies 222-414 Waterman 222-414 XFischer.

Burnett 222288 Lutz 1 1 1-34 Beebe 111-51 X Buhr 11 15 1 Wilcox et a1.111 5 l ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

forming end yieldable about the axis of said securing 15 OAKS AssistantExaminermeans upon engagement thereof by said lugs.

1. IN A HILL DROP PLANTER, A FRAME, A SEED CONTAINER CARRIED BY THE FRAME, A CIRCULAR SEED WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE FRAME, MEANS CARRIED BY THE FRAME FOR ROTATING SAID WHEEL, AT LEAST ONE SEED EJECTOR LUG AFFIXED TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE WHEEL AND PROJECTING RADIALLY THEREFROM, AN ARCUATE GUIDE MEMBER YIELDABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME CONFORMING TO THE CURVATURE OF THE SEED WHEEL AND SPACED THEREFROM THE RADIAL WIDTH OF SAID LUG TO FORM A SEED RECEIVING CHANNEL THEREBETWEEN AND THE PERIPHERY OF THE WHEEL WHEREIN THE SEED IS CONFINED DURING ROTATION OF THE WHEEL, SAID GUIDE MEMBER HAVING ITS LOWER END EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID LUG TOWARD 